Laboratory evolution in <i>Novosphingobium aromaticivorans</i> enables rapid catabolism of a model lignin-derived aromatic dimer.

ABSTRACT: Lignin contains a variety of interunit linkages, leading to a range of potential decomposition products that can be used as carbon and energy sources by microbes. β-O-4 linkages are the most common in native lignin, and associated catabolic pathways have been well characterized. However, the fate of the mono-aromatic intermediates that result from β-O-4 dimer cleavage has not been fully elucidated. Here, we used experimental evolution to identify mutant strains of Novosphingobium aromaticivorans with improved catabolism of a model aromatic dimer containing a β-O-4 linkage, guaiacylglycerol-β-guaiacyl ether (GGE). We identified several parallel causal mutations, including a single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter of an uncharacterized gene that roughly doubled the growth yield

SUBMITTER: Allemann MN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11837543 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature